"Élitism" should be destinguished from the state of being élite. An élitist is simply someone who believes in an élite. One need not be of the élite to be an élitist -- I frequently suck up to editors and Gods, because I acknowledge their power over my Everything activities. Therefore, I suppose, I'm an élitist, though I'm not (yet) of the élite caste itself.

Another example is the medical profession. Not just any old shmoe off the street can become a doctor, nor would we want that to happen. We only want the most knowledgable and highly-trained men and women to treat our illnesses. Therefore, medicine is an élite profession. Anyone who thinks of it as such is automatically an élitist, regardless of whether or not he himself is actually a doctor.

Another form of élitism is general, social élitism. This is where you deign not associate with some people, because they are not the calibre of person you choose to align with. This form of élitist often comes off as a pretentious and arrogant poseur. Now, I'm going to point out a fact which is obvious, but has never been put to me in such terms:

Being an élitist does not make you élite.

Seems simple enough, no? But there's more:

Believing that you are élite does not mean you are élite.

But the plot thickens:

Simply acknowledging these facts does not make you élite.

One becomes élite through achievements, not posturing. Posturing with substance is inevitable — posturing without substance is pathetic, and often transparent to the true élite themselves, especially the ones you might off-hand dismiss as "plebeians."

I'm an élitist. I rarely meet élites. I only meet people who claim to be élites, who wish they were élites. Am I élite? That's not for me to decide.